Amber Joy (Carpenter) Koeppen is a harpist and vocalist and a teacher in both disciplines. She is a dynamic performer who brings her love for vibrant musicianship and collaboration into her teaching. Amber holds degrees in Harp Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from UNC Charlotte and a Masters in Music from the University of Michigan. 

As a solo performer, she has been a prize winner and recipient of distinguished honors in a number of renowned harp competitions, including being awarded First Place in the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists. In addition to her extensive solo work, Amber has also performed with the New York City Ballet, the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and the Union Symphony Orchestra, as well as various chamber groups. She has performed across the United States and abroad, including the World Harp Congress in Sydney, Australia, and has lectured at the WAAE music education conference in Auckland, New Zealand.

Amber regularly enjoys providing music for weddings and other special events in the High Country and surrounding areas. Her repertoire covers many genres including classical, folk, contemporary and pop music. She enjoys helping her clients put together personally curated song lists that reflect their favorite music as well as the style and ambience of their event.

As a teacher, Amber is passionate about promoting musician wellness and fostering a drive for artistic excellence and creativity in her students.  In addition to being the professor of harp at Appalachian State University, she has taught at various summer music programs including Interlochen Center for the Arts and the American Harp Society’s Camp Innovation. Amber runs a private music studio offering harp and voice lessons to both children and adults. Her students are active musicians who have been accepted into notable music programs, performed in venues such as the White House and Biltmore Estate, and have been prize winners in solo competitions.

A devoted advocate for the arts, Amber actively participates in non-profit organizations promoting arts education. She has been the President of the Charlotte Chapter of the American Harp Society and the Executive Director of Brush Strokes and Music Notes, a non-profit organization offering grants and scholarships for arts education to students and teachers alike.